Posts Tagged ‘Lifelong Learning’

Live and learn takes on special meaning when it comes to the Columbus Academy of Lifelong Learning in Columbus, Georgia.

Learning with a lot of friends is quality living. And that’s what happens with about 200 seniors who attend CALL classes, trips, Pinocle and board games, and socials at the Columbus State University’s Turner Center for Continuing Education.

Everyone, who pays registration fees, is eligible to attend. Mostly retired folks join. There are lots of retired professionals, including educators, health care folks, a lawyer, a broadcast journalist (guess who), and others including a former Jeopardy champion and a Radio City Music Hall Rockette — really!

So, if you want to learn more about thngs like Inventions thatChanged the World, Understanding Great Art, Line Dancing, History’s Great Military Blunders, CSU Theater, and more go to the front desk at Turner Continuing Ed and sign up. $145 pays for annual membership for three quarters, or $65 for one. Believe me it’s a big time bargain.

Ruth Kiralfy and Gerda Smith, who have been members of C.A.L.L. since inception.

When my old friend Gerda Smith retired from her many years of teaching elementary school students, she decided she needed “something to do after retirement to keep my brain healthy.” That’s why she became a charter member of the Columbus College Academy of Lifelong Learning in 1993. Columbus College is now Columbus State University, so, I guess that would have been a little long for the group’s name so it was shortened t0 the Columbus Academy of Lifelong Learning, or C.A.L.L.

Gerda was happy to be among the current C.A.L.L. members who gathered Saturday to celebrate the organizations 20th birthday. Since I have been a member for a number of years, I was there, also. I need to keep my 82-year-old brain healthy, too.

You don’t have to be as ancient as me to become a member. I think some of our members are in their fifties, mere babes. If you do become a member, you’ll be offered a whole array of classes that range from Beethoven to current events to line dancing, and lots more, including card games and social events. So if you are retired, keep that brain active and healthy and have some fun at C.A.L.L.

The Columbus Academy of Lifelong Learning, also called CALL, keeps growing. More and more seniors in the Columbus area are discovering a place that provides not only continued learning, but the opportunity to socialize with others who want to keep their brains and bodies active.

Not only are there classes on subjects as diverse as foreign policy and line dancing, but trips to places like the Atlanta Aquarium, tours of the River Center, and lunches at places like the River Club. Do I recommend CALL? Well, I have been attending for a number of years. Our classes are conducted at the Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center for Continuing Education at Columbus State University.

Lifelong learning is attracting some impressive volunteer teaching talent in Columbus. For instance, how are you going to beat having a retired State Department Foreign Service officer to facilitate a discussion of global issues that affect everyone? He is one of the new volunteer facilitators for the Columbus Academy of Lifelong Learning. C.A.L.L. has a great group of volunteer teachers and facilitators, but this post would be too long if I listed all of them.

Bain Cowell, former Foreign Service officer, facilitator for Great Decisions

Bain Cowell, who will facilitate the Great Decisions course, worked as a Foreign Service officer, serving as a diplomat in Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Paris, Luxemburg, and the U.S. Mission in NATO, the European Union, and other places. I asked him why he agreed to facilitate the course, and he said, via email, “I volunteered as a facilitator for ‘Great Decisions’ because I enjoy teaching-and-learning, especially in the seminar/discussion format. I have fond memories of previous stints as a graduate student teaching assistant at Yale in the 1960s, as a university instructor/lecturer at Emory and Georgia Tech in the 1970s, and more recently as an instructor at WHINSEC.”

Also, part of his impressive background is his Army service in the Vietnam War, where he was decorated with a Bronze Star and Air Medal.

You’d never know he has that impressive background – oh, I almost forgot; he speaks four languages – when you talk with him. He is quite accessable and friendly.

All facilitators do little promotional announcements at the C.A.L.L. registration meeting. His class immediately filled up and ran out of the Great Decision course books.

If you would like to attend some of the C.A.L.L. classes – there are a lot of them – just fill out a form at the CSU Turner Center for Continuing Education, pay $55 and you’re in. The first class is on January 25th.